Shillong, Aug 2: BJP MDC from Tura, Bernard N Marak, who is in the middle of a burgeoning controversy for his alleged assault of a GHADC Executive Member, has categorically denied the assault charges. He, however,  acknowledged that an altercation did occur which was due to him questioning the corruption in the Council.

GHADC Executive Member Dhormonath Sangma has FIR against Bernard for assaulting him on July 30, 2021 after an altercation over allocated of funds.

In a statement on Monday, Bernard claimed that there was a heated argument for alloting only Rs 9.70 lakh to Tura constituency through the local MDC and calling him as an opposition even after supporting the present EC.

“Moreover, it was informed that CM and Dr M Chuba Ao put the Tura MDC in opposition and claimed all the money meant for Tura constituency. The MDCs always blamed other leaders whereas they themselves manipulate the schemes meant for the public,” he said.

Ao is currently the BJP Meghalaya In-charge.

He said now it is being shown that Rs 1.57 crore was sanctioned for Tura but his proposals were all rejected and only Rs 9.70 lakh was sanctioned through him. Whereas the rest of the funds were awarded by GHADC to contractors known to those in the corridors of power.

He further alleged that the funds are diverted from public related projects which he had submitted for repairing of GHADC quarters which are not public related development at all.

Stating that he cannot deprive and betray his people and area for the sake of their lies, Bernard said the proposed repairing of GHADC quarters have been estimated at Rs 20 lakh each with the total coming to Rs. 1 crore which was put under Tura area.

According to him though, the cost is over estimated by the Executive Council (EC) of GHADC as it would have costed hardly 5 lakh.

“Tura is my area and they intruded into my area without my knowledge and taking away my area’s developmental funds for their own benefit,” he claimed.